Key recommendations from sickness absence review

The Government-commissioned sickness absence review, led by business leader
David Frost and health adviser Dame Carol Black, lists a number of
recommendations to help cure sicknote Britain and bring down the £13bn
benefits bill. Here we list the top findings.

Unfit for work? Too many people are deemed entirely unfit for work when they could be working reduced hours or switch jobs, the report recommends.Photo: ALAMY

The long-awaited sickness absence review has been published. The Telegraph first revealed the report back in February, when David Cameron called in business leaders to help the Government identify ways of bringing down the enormous cost to the state of sickness absence. It was the first time politicians had commissioned the help of the private sector to sort out sicknote Britain.

The review, led by David Frost, the former director general of the British Chambers of Commerce and Dame Carol Black, the Government's health adviser, has made a number of recommendations, which will be responded to in January.

There are plenty of findings to choose from (the report is 113 pages long). Here we pull out what we think are the most significant:

1. An independent panel should sign off workers on long-term sick leave, which could trump whatever their family doctor says.

2. Those on long-term sick leave should be matched with more appropriate jobs rather than be left to fall out of work and claim benefits.

3. Jobcentre Plus should change its processes so that thousands of workers are prevented from needlessly flowing onto sickness-related benefits. The review team want to scrap the 13-week wait before those on sick leave are assessed.

4. Employment law should be changed to allow companies to dismiss workers on long-term sick leave without the risk of being sued, by negotiating a one-off cash settlement.

5. "Generous" public sector sick-pay schemes should be reviewed after it was found the average state scheme entitles workers to six months' absence on full pay, compared to eight weeks in the private sector.

6. Employers that spend on medical treatments or workplace rehabilitation schemes to get sick people back to work quicker should be eligible for tax relief.

7. The current system for recovering statutory sick pay should be scrapped, saving the state £50m a year. Small employers, which tend to use the scheme, will be the most affected and the removal could limit hiring. However, the costs would be offset under other changes, the review said.

8. The Government must boost awareness among GPs and health care professionals that going back to work early after sick leave can aid recovery.

9. The Government should publish more guidance for doctors on how to fill out "fit notes" correctly – the replacement to the sick note which was introduced last year following another review by Dame Carol Black. Employers warn too often that sick individuals are signed off as entirely unfit for work when they could be able to come back under flexible hours or changed duties.